Grasper for a needle sheath, cap, autoinjector and method of producing a grasper

Abstract

The disclosure refers to a grasper for a needle sheath removably arranged over a needle, wherein the grasper comprises a grasping carrier formed of a sheet and multiply bent along a plurality of longitudinal fold edges to form a plurality of carrier portions, wherein more than one of the plurality of carrier portions comprises a respective barb projecting from the surface of the carrier portion. The disclosure further refers to a cap and an autoinjector and a method of producing a grasper.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A grasper for a needle sheath removably arranged over a needle, the grasper comprising:
 a grasping carrier formed of a sheet and multiply bent along a plurality of longitudinal fold edges to form a plurality of carrier portions, wherein more than one of the plurality of carrier portions comprises a respective barb projecting from a surface of the carrier portion, wherein the plurality of longitudinal fold edges are oriented to extend along a main extension direction of the needle. 
 
     
     
       2. The grasper according to  claim 1 , the grasping carrier is a single piece of sheet metal. 
     
     
       3. The grasper according to  claim 1 , wherein in a bent state the grasping carrier has a pipe-form or cylinder-form with a polygonal cross section. 
     
     
       4. The grasper according to  claim 1 , wherein the grasping carrier is bent in such a manner that the plurality of carrier portions are partly overlapped. 
     
     
       5. The grasper according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of carrier portions comprise a cut-out from which the barbs are bent in the same direction. 
     
     
       6. The grasper according to  claim 1 , wherein the barbs have a hook-form or prong-form. 
     
     
       7. The grasper according to  claim 1 , wherein the grasping carrier comprises one or more retaining slots. 
     
     
       8. The grasper according to  claim 1 , wherein the grasping carrier comprises one or more retaining lugs. 
     
     
       9. The grasper according to  claim 8 , wherein the retaining lugs and the barbs are bent in opposite directions from the grasping carrier. 
     
     
       10. The grasper according to  claim 1 , further comprising an orientation element indicating an assembling orientation. 
     
     
       11. A cap for an autoinjector comprising:
 a grasper for a needle sheath removable arranged over a needle, the grasper comprising a grasping carrier formed of a sheet and multiply bent along a plurality of longitudinal fold edges to form a plurality of carrier portions, wherein more than one of the plurality of carrier portions comprises a respective barb projecting from a surface of the carrier portion, wherein the plurality of longitudinal fold edges are oriented to extend along a main extension direction of the needle. 
 
     
     
       12. The cap according to  claim 11 , comprising a mounting support arranged on an inner cap surface and adapted to retain the grasper in the cap. 
     
     
       13. The cap according to  claim 11 , wherein the grasping carrier comprises one or more retaining slots or retaining lugs. 
     
     
       14. The cap according to  claim 13 , comprising a mounting support that comprises one or more holding lugs or holding slots corresponding to the one or more retaining slots or retaining lugs of the grasper. 
     
     
       15. An autoinjector comprising:
 a cap according to  claim 11 , wherein the grasper is retained in the cap and wherein the cap is removably arranged on the autoinjector. 
 
     
     
       16. The autoinjector of  claim 15  comprising a cartridge, the cartridge comprising a medicament. 
     
     
       17. A method for producing a grasper for a needle sheath removable arranged over a needle, the method comprising:
 forming a plurality of barbs into a grasping carrier by cutting or stamping; 
 multiply bending the grasping carrier along a plurality of longitudinal fold edges to form a plurality of carrier portions in such a manner that more than one of the plurality of carrier portions comprises a respective barb, wherein the plurality of longitudinal fold edges are oriented to extend along a main extension direction of the needle; and 
 bending the barbs in such a manner that the barbs project from an inner surface of the carrier portion.